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Thanks to everyone who helped out on this. The final answer was Loctite Naval Jelly. I used it while restoring some metal parts on my 1958 Edsel, and as I was working hard, trying to polish that stuff off with Nevr-Dull, I had a brain storm. Why work hard? Work smart! Naval Jelly removes rust and corrosion (and usually paint) but doesn't harm plating. Perfect! Brushed it on and scrubbed with a toothbrush, the inside and outside of the horn are free of weird brown coating. I still have some polishing to do, but I'll post a few photos soon!

A few photos of the horn. The naval jelly stripped away the coating but didn't disturb the plating. I chose to shine the interior of the horn, but not to a mirror finish. I left the exterior alone after the cleaning and just waxed it. It has almost a gunmetal appearance that is very attractive. Overall, it's a nice, mellow look for a 110 year old machine. Now to get some parts and get it running!

It looks very nice - congratulations.

Note that the trim ring around the turntable should receive the same treatment - - it's nickel too.

Columbias and Victors each have their advantages and disadvantages, but I think the Columbias generally excel in appearance. Beautiful machine.

George P.

That turned out beautifully, congratulations!
Andreas

Thanks guys! I'm very pleased. I paid under $200 for this machine, so I'm thrilled with its cosmetic condition. Mechanically, it needs some attention (reproducer and spring work). That aside, I couldn't be happier. I noticed the turntable trim. When I cleaned it with Murphy's Oil Soap, there wasn't a single trace of nickel plating on it. Not sure what happened to the plating... but I guess a lot can happen over 100+ years. I had the turntable off, but now it seems to have locked down. I'll have to get it back off and see if there are traces of plating on any other part of the ring. I can see plating on the very edge of the turntable itself, just not on that ring.

Edisonh19 wrote: I can see plating on the very edge of the turntable itself, just not on that ring.

The silver you see on the edge of the turn table is actually silver paint. This particular turntable was not nickeled plated.

The nickel plating on the ring was so thin its very common for it to be worn away nowadays. If you find any of the plating under the dirt, clean carefully.

You have a nice Columbia BI and it's coming along nicely congrats.

Larry Crandell

Thanks Larry! It's looking like most if not all of the plating was polished away long ago. The brass is heavily tarnished to a rich brown color, so I'm thinking there's nothing left of the nickel. Was it common for Columbia to paint the edges of their turntables? I ask because I have a Columbia BA (no markings) that has no plating/paint left on the edge of the turntable. Just wondering if it would have been painted as well.

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks Larry! It's looking like most if not all of the plating was polished away long ago. The brass is heavily tarnished to a rich brown color, so I'm thinking there's nothing left of the nickel. Was it common for Columbia to paint the edges of their turntables? I ask because I have a Columbia BA (no markings) that has no plating/paint left on the edge of the turntable. Just wondering if it would have been painted as well.

Well, on my BI (a late one, w/o the dust ring) the turntable rim is clearly nickeled.

(I wish my horn had come out as well as this one, though).

Bill

I was really happy with the horn. I've seen a lot of them polished to a mirror-like finish, but I'm not a fan. I like the slight patina that this one has in its current state. It's really warm and pretty. This one appears to have paint on the edge of the turntable. I tend to restore things very conservatively to preserve what's left of the original, but just enough to make the item attractive and useful as though it had been well cared for through its whole existence.

Lucius1958 wrote:

Edisonh19 wrote:Thanks Larry! It's looking like most if not all of the plating was polished away long ago. The brass is heavily tarnished to a rich brown color, so I'm thinking there's nothing left of the nickel. Was it common for Columbia to paint the edges of their turntables? I ask because I have a Columbia BA (no markings) that has no plating/paint left on the edge of the turntable. Just wondering if it would have been painted as well.

Well, on my BI (a late one, w/o the dust ring) the turntable rim is clearly nickeled.

(I wish my horn had come out as well as this one, though).

Bill

Sorry Guys, I did not mean to imply that all Columbia BI's or Columbia machines had painted turntable rims. I have no hard facts or data, just personal observation over the years that many of the thin cast iron Columbia turn tables were trimmed with silver paint, as the one shown above.

Larry Crandell

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